LONDON (UK) – Several advocates in Leicester have said that despite a government task force and the proposed factory licensing scheme, labour abuses in garment factories are unlikely to stop unless trade unions and community groups come out to take up the cause of workers.
Leicester’s textile sector has been in the media this month after reports that suppliers to brands such as Boohoo and Quiz were paying employees as little as 3 pounds ($3.80) an hour, which is less than half the minimum wage.
Though both firms promised to conduct a probe and take action, they have drawn flak for snapping ties with suppliers.
Home secretary Priti Patel announced last week that there would be a cross-government task force “on the ground” soon in Leicester. The retail lobby group on Monday demanded factories to be licensed to solve issues such as forced labour and low pay.
“We need a community development approach, to work door-to-door … for people to be able to organise, get support within the community and have a decent standard of living,” said Mark Mizzen of the charity Leicester Unemployed Workers Centre.
But activists said that organising the workers is difficult as employers do not have to grant access to unions and many suppliers have only a limited number of workers.
Most of the garment factory workers in the city hail from South Asia and they are afraid to speak out about the abuses as they lack the right to work or live in the country. So, they cannot afford to lose their only source of income.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field